These prompts can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before or after reading the book.

Personal Response Prompt

Write an autobiographical story about a time when you had a conflict with a friend.

Teaching Suggestion: Have students journal about their experiences with their friendships, including difficult moments that may have led to Breaking up with Childhood Friends. After students finish journaling, ask them what feelings they had while writing. Have them describe how their friendships changed as a result of the conflict.

• This Kidscape article, “What Makes a Good Friend?”, identifies behaviors that good friends exhibit and provides a point of reference for students.

Post-Reading Analysis

How do you think Raina’s mom felt about Caring for a Child with Medical Problems? Analyze her character throughout the story and her reactions to the changes in Raina’s life.

Teaching Suggestion: Explain that some information in a text is implied rather than explicitly stated, and have students practice making inferences about Raina’s mother. Discuss how she changes in each chapter and how she changes from the beginning to the end of the book.

• Character Analysis Video from McGraw Hill – discusses how to analyze character traits and motivations